Fine potstill brandies from the House of Van Ryn’s and Oude Meester dominated the podium at the 2017 International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) in London, collecting Gold Outstanding awards for the Oude Meester Souverein 18 Year Old and the Van Ryn’s 20 Year Old Collector’s Reserve.
Founded in 1969, the IWSC is considered to be the most prestigious competition of its kind in the world, and awards given by the competition are among some of the highest honours in the industry.
Judging for the Competition is unique in that it has two stages; first, the products are tasted blind by expert panels, selected from over 300 fully experienced and qualified industry judges.
Products which receive the top medals are then subject to technical analysis before results are released; this crucial stage ensures that the medal winners receive complete validation, and can make a rightful claim to be among the world’s best.
Head of the judging panel for brandies and cognacs was South African brandy judge and Cape Wine Master, Dr Winnie Bowman.
The judges were impressed by Van Ryn’s 20 Year old, waxing lyrical in describing a hint of cinnamon and fresh baked buns on the nose, leading to a palate carrying hints of leather, spiced cream and a suggestion of ginger.
The Oude Meester Souverein proved equally popular with the judges, who found a rich veins of vanilla and oak on the nose, followed by notes of spiced cooking apple with ice cream.
The palate entices with hints of red apples, stone fruit and nutmeg before leading to an elegant finish enhanced by subtle notes of sweet grape and leathery oak.
Distell Spirits Portfolio Ambassador, Nick Holdcroft says: “We are very proud of the high regard our brandies receive on the global stage. Over the last 12 years, Van Ryn’s brandies have won the IWSC trophy for Best Worldwide Brandy no less than seven times which is a remarkable achievement."
"Given our consistent stellar performance at the most respected international competitions, it is fair to say that South Africa’s potstill brandies set the benchmark in world class quality and offer unbeatable value,” adds Holdcraft.